ReWork Consulting, a ticketing consultancy for the leisure, attractions and experience operators and technology suppliers, was brought in by LIVE IT Group, a company that has been supporting the live entertainment industry since 2013, to support its goal of increasing sales opportunities and conversions in the attractions ticketing sector, and to help it gain a larger market share in the industry.
More than 3.5 million tickets have already been distributed globally using LIVE IT’s ticketing systems. The firm’s clientele ranges from live music festivals and theatre plays to sporting events.
Following the success of its venue ticketing product launch at Hever Castle, LIVE IT recognised a market opportunity in the visitor attractions industry. However, a knowledge gap within the company was discovered, necessitating the development of a defined growth strategy. ReWork was contacted to assist the firm in becoming “market ready” for a successful launch into the industry.
ReWork supports both operators and suppliers across the leisure, attractions and experience sectors with the best ticketing and technology partnerships. Clients include Merlin Entertainments, Wake the Tiger, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and many more across theme parks, museums, activity centres, live entertainment and wider attractions around the world.
Drawing on industry experience
LIVE IT chose to engage ReWork after building a new SaaS venue platform for attractions, as the company wanted a professional opinion on how to position itself in the market. ReWork founder Sarah Bagg‘s experience in the sector and knowledge of systems were key factors in this choice.
In her initial assessment and analysis, Bagg focused on the essential business functions of sales, marketing, onboarding, product roadmap, and client retention. She put out a thorough “market ready” report with several suggestions to help LIVE IT on its path to greater command in the attractions sector.
Throughout this two-month partnership, Bagg made sure LIVE IT was best positioned to attract potential customers. She shared her personal understanding of the industry and experience, which helped the team implement a change strategy across the organisation. A positive return on investment and valuable time were gained as a result of Bagg’s advice on how to avoid delays while preparing for launch.
“During her consultancy, Sarah from ReWork made a substantial contribution to the evolution of the LIVE IT Venue Platform,” says Kenton Ward, CEO of LIVE IT. “Her professional expertise and methodical approach shaped our product development discussions, guiding us towards an improved understanding of our market positioning and competitive landscape.
“Sarah’s market analysis uncovered the intricate dynamics of our industry, leading us to identify gaps in the market. Her insights were instrumental in refining the focus of our platform and fortifying our position within the market specifically in the area of analytics, BI and reporting. Her inputs were not only insightful but practical, providing us with a clear roadmap to expand our product’s capabilities. Her contributions have directly led to a better and more competitive LIVE IT Venue Platform that stands out within the sector.”
Partnership leads to real benefits
An important part of this endeavour involved reviewing LIVE IT’s sales-marketing plan. The problem in this situation was the lack of actual client demonstrations or tenders from the attractions industry.
Bagg came up with a fake demo scenario which was then submitted to ReWork by the LIVE IT team as a potential client. This was an excellent chance to highlight the processes for sales, presentations, and demonstrations. ReWork then offered more suggestions for enhancing sales conversions.
“Sarah’s consultancy work with the LIVE IT Venue Platform has enabled us to make several strategic moves that have profoundly transformed our product and its market positioning,” adds Ward.
“Firstly, her expert guidance facilitated a more targeted approach to our market strategy. By revealing nuanced insights into the competitive landscape and customer needs, Sarah empowered us to align our marketing efforts more effectively with our target audience. This has increased our product visibility and appeal within the desired market segment.
“Secondly, the integration of our platform with commonly used industry software, as proposed by Sarah, has increased our platform’s versatility and convenience. This has created an additional competitive edge for us, making our platform an even more attractive choice for potential users.
“Working with Sarah has fundamentally transformed our approach to product development and market strategy. Her unique blend of strategic insight and practical recommendations has not only sharpened our focus but also enriched our platform’s user experience. This collaboration has empowered us to engage with our target market more effectively, resulting in increased visibility and customer satisfaction.”
The relationship between the two firms is ongoing, as ReWork continues to offer invaluable strategic help on a regular basis, saving the LIVE IT team time and boosting their market share.
Staying on top of trends
In addition to working on projects with clients like LIVE IT, ReWork has been sharing knowledge and developing supportive networks for the industry, including on the ReWork blog which can be found here.
ReWork took part in the Ticketing Business Forum (TBF), held at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, UK. This presented attendees with an opportunity to dive into the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the ticketing industry. Bagg is working closely with the TBF team to provide relevant content and raise awareness specifically for the visitor attractions industry.
As part of the two-day event in Manchester, Bagg hosted an all-female panel during which she shared insights and knowledge on the topic of ‘Extending the Experience’, alongside Amanda Hillgrove of Adelaide Festival, Cat Nunes of the Postal Museum, Samantha Potts from the Royal Opera House and Halla Svansdottir of Kilden Theatre and Concert Hall.
Being part of an all-female panel was important to Bagg, who has also launched a women-in-tech network to address some of the issues faced by women that work within the industry.
In May, ReWork Consulting took part in the Ticketing Professionals Conference (TPC) 2023 in Birmingham, UK. Bagg was one of several key industry experts on the content panel for this year’s event. Later this year, Bagg will lead the Technology Lab education session at IAAPA Expo Europe in Vienna, Austria, which takes place from 25 – 28 September 2023. The session will be on Thursday 28 September from 12-1 pm CEST in Conference Room 2.
The team at ReWork says that its goal is to help leisure and attractions businesses get where they need to go faster, by bringing in clear strategies for growth and customer engagement
